Gardeners’ Top Picks August 2020
There is so much to see in the gardens this month! Check out our garden team’s top plant picks for August. Use this as your guide as you explore the grounds.
Rosinweed (Silphium asteriscus)
Bloom Time: July – October
Sun Requirement: Full sun
Water Requirement: Medium
Wildlife: Butterflies, bees, & songbirds
Tolerates: Drought & Deer
Native to North America: Yes
Other: Indigenous people used the sap of rosinweed to make a chewing gum.
Zones: 4 – 8
Location: Bracken Foundation Children’s Garden
Purple Top Verbena (Verbena bonariensis)
Bloom Time: June – Frost
Sun Requirement: Full sun – part shade
Water Requirement: Medium
Wildlife: Butterflies & goldfinch
Tolerates: Poor soils
Native to North America: No
Other: Will self seed and naturalize in warmer climates.
Zones: 7 – 11
Location: Wills Perennial Garden / Front Lawn at Sapphire Star
Mexican Oak (Quercus greggii ‘La Siberia’)
Sun Requirement: Full sun
Water Requirement: Medium
Wildlife: Deer resistant
Tolerates: Clay & drought
Native to North America: Yes
Other: New leaves are fuzzy and crinkly. ‘La Siberia’ is a town located near the High Mexican Valley.
Zones: 7 – 11
Location: Sigourney Cheek Literary Garden
Japanese Forest Grass (Hakonechloa macra ‘Aureola’ )
Sun Requirement: Part shade
Water Requirement: Medium
Wildlife: Deer resistant
Tolerates: Shade
Native to North America: No
Other: ‘Aureola’ is a gold-striped variety.
Zones: 5 – 9
Location: Burr Terrace Garden
Smokebush (Cotinus coggyria ‘Purple Smoke’)
Bloom Time: May – July
Sun Requirement: Full sun
Water Requirement: Medium
Wildlife: Deer resistant
Tolerates: Drought
Native to North America: No
Other: Foliage color is various shades of purple throughout growing season / Excellent fall color as well
Zones: 5 – 8
Location: Bradford Robertson Color Garden: Arches
Sneezeweed (Helenium autumnale ‘Mariachi Salsa’ )
Bloom Time: July – October
Sun Requirement: Full sun
Water Requirement: Medium – wet
Wildlife: Butterflies
Tolerates: Rabbits & deer
Native to North America: Yes
Other: Use as a front border for aesthetic reasons and to deter rabbits.
Zones: 3 – 8
Location: Howe Garden
Stoke’s Aster (Stokesia laevis ‘Peachie’s Pick’)
Bloom Time: June – September
Sun Requirement: Full sun
Water Requirement: Medium
Wildlife: Butterflies & bees
Tolerates: Drought & heat
Native to North America: Yes
Other: If deadheaded consistently, this plant will rebloom in the fall.
Zones: 5 – 9
Location: Bracken Foundation Children’s Garden
Red Yucca (Hesperole parviflora)
Bloom Time: July – August
Sun Requirement: Full sun
Water Requirement: Dry
Wildlife: Hummingbirds & butterflies
Tolerates: Drought
Native to North America: Yes
Other: Excellent rock garden plant and a favorite of hummingbirds!
Zones: 5 – 10
Location: Sigourney Cheek Literary Garden
